RCAAP Repository

Abstract The experiences of partners in their families of origin, the circumstances of everyday life and aspects of infidelity in the marital relationship have been studied to explain the genesis of intimate partner violence. This study investigated the experiences of the family of origin, which sociodemographic data and what factors associated with infidelity have a greater predictive power of intimate partner violence, besides the possible interactions between these variables. A quantitative, correlational and explanatory study was developed with 600 participants (384 men, 216 women), correlations were established and linear regression models were proposed. The results identified that circumstances of daily life (such as gender, having children or not, partner's age) and experiences in the family of origin (physical neglect, sexual abuse and parental alliance) contribute to the explanation of the different expressions of violence in the couple. Infidelity, although correlated with violence, did not prove to be a predictor. Physical neglect and sexual abuse were identified as predictors of physical violence while the dysfunctional parental alliance was a predictor of psychological violence. The women showed higher rates of psychological violence while men presented greater perpetration of sexual coercion. The marital clinic is a highlighting in this context, since it proposes to welcome and treat the conjugal relationship in its structuring and relational aspects, improving the establishment of more balanced, stable and functional relational models.

Abstract Unjustified aggression is a problem that exists in schools and represents an obstacle for achieving the goals pursued by education. The goal of this article is to explain how shame, empathy, coping style and school safety discriminate between defensive and reinforcing observers in the face of a hypothetical situation of school bullying. 505 students from public, technical and federal secondary schools of the State of Sonora with ages ranging from 12 to 17 years participated in this study. Of this sample 131 were considered defenders and 374 reinforcers. The results show that the recognition of shame, affective empathy, confrontative coping and school safety explain up to 71.4% the differences between the defensive observers and the reinforcers. It is concluded that the variables considered as predictors can differentiate between the types of observers and represent a valuable contribution in the analysis of bullying as a group process.

Abstract Job crafting is proactive bottom-up job redesign to optimize person-job fit. A job crafting intervention is any training or method designed to stimulate or develop job crafting behaviors in employees. This paper systematically reviews research examining the effects of job crafting interventions and identifies their tendencies and gaps. A search was conducted in PsycINFO, Academic Search Premier, Web of Science, and SciELO using the key terms job crafting and interventions in databases available from 2007 to September 2017. We identified eight studies that met our inclusion criteria. The analysis of these articles revealed that the design of seven intervention studies was based on theoretical assumptions derived from job demands-resources theory and used a quasi-experimental design. Job crafting interventions increased different types of job crafting behaviors, well-being variables, and job performance. Inconsistencies regarding significant effects in job resources and work engagement across studies are discussed. Recommendations for future research on job crafting interventions in organizations are presented.

Abstract Social interactions between disabled children and their peers are not only important to their development of social competence, but may also be indicative of the extent of educational inclusion at the children's school. The aim of this study was to perform a literature review of Brazilian articles on the topic of educational inclusion and social interactions involving children with disabilities. A total of 465 articles published between 2007 and 2017 were obtained from the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) and the Brazilian Association for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) databases. The keywords used inclusion, educational inclusion, social interaction, and socialization. After the exclusion criteria were applied, there remained 26 articles and empirical studies published in Portuguese on the topic of social interaction among children with and without disabilities in schools offering educational inclusion programs. Most of the results in these articles described cases of social exclusion within these schools; in these cases, interactions between disabled children and their peers were rare or nonexistent, and the faculty and staff exhibited some distrust in the disabled students' abilities to learn and develop academically. The review also revealed the need for empirical intervention studies that may ultimately produce proposals for changes in these policies and situations.

Abstract Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) with high prevalence and incidence in the pediatric population is a relevant issue in public health. The literature associates family psychosocial aspects with chronic childhood illness. The present study examined the psychological alterations and peculiarities of caregivers and of children with GERD (n = 26) and healthy children (n = 30) from 3 to 12 years of age. Instruments: Sociodemographic Questionnaire and Assessment of Risk Factors for Child Illness; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; and Rutter's Child Behavior Scale (A2), all of which were administered to the caregivers. Quantitative data analysis (χ2 test, Fisher's exact test and ANOVA) was performed, respecting each instrument's respective criteria. In the group of children with GERD, we observed both a higher incidence of alcohol and/or drug use/abuse and higher levels of anxiety and depression on the part of the caregivers, as well as psychosocial problems involving the child. In light of the developmental level expected for this age group, greater frequency of behavioral problems was also observed. We thus conclude that there is a correlation between family psychological traits and GERD in children, stressing the need for conducting further studies and for supervising interdisciplinary clinical practices in the health care of this population.

Abstract This cross-sectional exploratory study investigated the incidence of stalking subsequent to the breakup of a dating or romantic relationship during adolescence. A total of 117 adolescents (62.4% female), with a mean age of 16.87 years (SD = 1.26), were identified as victims of stalking perpetrated by an ex-intimate partner and were compared to a group of non-victims (n = 410) matched by age and sex. "Courtship and Approach" was the most prevalent type of stalking. Adolescents stalking victims exhibited significantly higher mean scores for depression, anxiety and stress symptoms than did non-victims; and female victims presented greater symptomatology than did male victims. Multiple regression analysis indicated that suffering physical and verbal/emotional abuse during a dating relationship explains 19.0% of the variance of becoming a stalking victim subsequent to the breakup of the relationship. These findings emphasize the need for a better understanding of the stalking phenomenon and for public policies aimed at intervention and prevention, given that both victims and perpetrators require psychological assistance in order to break the dating violence cycle.

Abstract Although the scientific production on religiosity/spirituality (R/S) is increasing, notably from their connection with the health dimension, this theme is practically absent in Psychology training. The objective of this study was to learn the professional reality of psychotherapists regarding their clinical experiences and the R/S dimension. Twenty-four professionals from two cities in the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais, Brazil, with an average psychotherapy experience of 10.54 years, were interviewed individually. The interviews were transcribed in full and analyzed from the R/S literature. Such a dimension is evoked as relevant for all psychotherapists, although it has not been sufficiently addressed in their training. The exploration of R/S stems from client demands and presents at times as an important resource for intervention, while in other times hinders the development of many conditions. The recent proposals of the Psychology Councils regarding R/S are unknown by the professionals, suggesting the need for greater dialog and also the presence of such discussions in Psychology training.

Abstract Hospitalization may interfere with behavioral and emotional responses and influence outcomes in health and development. An analysis of the literature on the subject can contribute to the comprehension of stress triggers and their effects. This study reviewed the Brazilian literature on stress indicators associated with hospitalization in children and their caregivers. The methodological characteristics of each article, as well as their findings regarding stressful contexts, emotional and behavioral reactions and possible interventions were analyzed. A search for articles published between 2000-2016 was performed in the Virtual Health Library using the following keywords: child hospitalization, hospitalization, hospitalized child, stress, emotional stress and psychological stress. The application of inclusion and exclusion criteria resulted in a final sample of 38 articles. Most studies were concentrated in the Southeast, South and Northeast regions of the country, and relied on small and mixed samples. Few studies used assessment instruments. This review highlighted the need for interventions that improve communication in hospital settings. Initiatives that improve the quality of care, attend to families' needs, provide psychological support, and encourage play may also have beneficial effects on quality of life.

Abstract Developing awareness of stereotypes regarding people with mental disorders has great relevance, as it implies understanding the characteristics of the shared conceptualization society has toward this social group. Such understanding identifies elements for action aiming to favor the social inclusion of these individuals. This research aimed to develop the Scale of Stereotypes about the Mentally Ill (SSMI) by gathering psychometric data. Two studies were performed. In Study 1, 210 university students with a mean age of 24.07 (SD = 5.77) participated. In Study2, 206 university students with a mean age of 24.35 (SD = 6.51) were included. In the first study, principal component analysis indicated the existence of two components (Threat Stereotypes, α = 0.81; Disability stereotypes, α = 0.80) with 10 items in total. In the second study, a confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the two-factor model proposed for the scale was adequate: χ2/df = 2.31, GFI = 0.93, CFI = 0.94, and RMSEA = 0.08 (90% CI = 0.057 - 0.103). It was concluded that this measure exhibits apparent factor validity and internal consistency and can be used to measure stereotypes about individuals with mental illness adequately.

Abstract Introduction: Film clips are the most used stimuli to induce different emotional states. Objective: Identify, select, and evaluate a set of film clips according to dimensionality and discreteness of emotions. Film experts suggested 437 fragments, but only 70 met the criteria to be included in the LATEMO-E film-clip database. Study 1: The 70 film clips were tested for their ability to induce disgust, anger, fear, sadness, amusement, tenderness, and neutral (n = 147 participants; mean age = 20.64 years, SD ±2.21 years). Results: A total of 28 film clips presented adequate scores on intensity and discreteness. Study 2: A total of 28 selected film clips were assessed again in a new sample of 106 participants (mean age = 20.96 years, SD ±2.45 years). Results: Anger and amusement film clips were the most extreme in the valence and activation dimensions. Anger and fear film clips were the most extreme categories in the intensity, certainty, and control dimensions. Conclusions: These stimuli were useful for inducing emotional states that can be judged from both the dimensional perspective of emotions and the basic emotions perspective. Evoked emotions could be differentiated according to cognitive patterns of evaluation that guide behavior in response to emotional stimulation.

Abstract Virtual reality (VR) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders. The effects of a behavioral intervention procedure that included exposure to VR, diaphragmatic breathing, differential reinforcement, and functional analysis of behavior of participants with public speaking anxiety were investigated. The Virtua Therapy simulator with an Oculus Rift® was used for VR exposure. Six university students participated in the procedure involving the following sequence of sessions: initial interview and baseline measures (3-5), intervention (6), closure (1), follow-up (2). In the baseline sessions, the participants gave a speech in a room without an audience (avatars): in the intervention sessions and follow-up they spoke in a classroom or auditorium with an audience, and verbal consequences (feedback) were provided for appropriate speech pitch and speed. Verbal and non-verbal measures of behaviors were recorded. In the intervention sessions, functional analyses of everyday public speaking situations were performed. There was statistically significant difference in the pre- and post-intervention data in the Self-Statements during Public Speaking Scale (improvement in self-evaluation) and improvement in speech quality. The conclusion was reached that the intervention procedure contributed to the reduction of anxiety.

Abstract Studies in the English language suggest that emergent literacy skills promote success in literacy. This longitudinal study investigated whether and which emergent literacy skills contribute to initial reading and writing performance in a sample of 34 Brazilian children from public schools. The participants underwent tests on phonological awareness, oral comprehension, vocabulary and knowledge of letters at the end of Early Childhood Education. The participants' skills in writing and reading words as well as reading comprehension were evaluated in the 1st year of elementary school. Data were analyzed using correlation and regression analysis. Results showed that emergent literacy skills presented significant positive correlations with reading and writing performance. Multiple regression analyses indicated significant and independent contributions of phonological awareness and knowledge of letters for writing, however, only phonological awareness significantly and independently contributed to reading of words and reading comprehension skills. It was concluded that emergent literacy skills related to the coding domain are the most important for literacy.

Abstract The shortage of opportunities to access effective interventions for autism in developing countries is a major concern. Research on parent-implemented interventions is critical for the dissemination of evidence-based treatments. The present study evaluated the efficacy of a parent-implemented intervention program that is offered to low and lower middle-class families in northern Brazil. The participants were three children who were diagnosed with autism and their respective parents/caregivers. All of the parents had received training on the implementation of discrete-trial teaching. We collected data on the children's performance and evaluated the integrity of the parent-implemented intervention. The results showed improvements in performance for two of the three children whose parents implemented the intervention with a high degree of integrity. For the third parent whose child had lower performance, low attendance during the training sessions was correlated with the child's slower rate of acquisition. These findings support the potential benefits of parent-implemented intervention programs for children with autism and extend to the socio-cultural context of developing countries, such as Brazil.

Abstract The scientific method is indispensable for the consolidation of evidence-based Psychology. However, Psychology is a discipline permeated by doubts about its scientific nature, and there are resistances to the scientific method by its students and professionals. The aim of this study was to verify relations between Attitude towards Science in Psychology's scores (ATSP) and sociodemographic characteristics. Participants were 611 people, students or professionals of Psychology, from all regions of Brazil, with 18 to 75 years, 64.2% women. Participants answered a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Attitude towards Science in Psychology Scale. Men presented ATSP more favorable than women, as did students from private universities compared to public universities and people who work in relation to those who do not work. Rio de Janeiro presented lower rates of ATSP compared to other states in the South and Southeast. The results promote preliminary findings of variables involved in the difficulty of constructing a scientific psychology in Brazil.

Abstract The growing importance of human capital to the success of organizations has increased the efforts to learn what companies can do to attract and retain employees capable of helping them succeed. This paper investigated what individual, organizational and contextual variables predicted competent performance, job satisfaction, and intention to remain in the organization. Participants were 262 Brazilian professionals, who answered a survey online containing measures to assess individual (sociodemographic data, personality, and moral forces), organizational (labor data, contractual, constituent, calculative and behavioral forces), and contextual aspects (perceptions about the labor market, perceived employment opportunities, and nomative forces). Their mean age was 35.4 years (SD = 8.74) and 63% were men. Three independent hierarchical linear regression analyses were conducted. Results indicate that: individual aspects were the best predictors of competent performance; organizational variables only predicted Job satisfaction, and that individual, organizational, and contextual variables predicted intention to remain. We conclude that, although different variables predict performance, satisfaction and retention of professionals, the calculative force predicts these three variables. We recommend, therefore, that evidence-based management enable clear career dialogues between employees and organizational representatives, in order to retain valuable professionals and promote satisfactory experiences in organizations.

Abstract Signed since 1990, school inclusion has brought challenges to the teaching practice not only due to the demands of teaching-learning, but also of the relation with the included student. Therefore, the present study aimed to characterize teachers about emotional competence and coping styles, as well as evaluate the quality of the included student-teacher relationship and the association between these variables. An analytical, quantitative and cross-sectional, observational study was carried out, involving 63 teachers from schools that attend students with deficits in the performance of mental/intellectual functions in São Leopoldo-RS. They responded to the Sociodemographic and Labor Questionnaire, the Inventory of Emotional Competencies, the Brief Scale COPE and the Teacher-Student Relationship Scale. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyzes (Pearson's correlation and Multiple Linear Regression) revealed that although teachers have emotional skills and adaptive coping strategies, the conflict factor was highlighted in the evaluation of the teacher-student relationship, with self-blame, positive reinterpretation and humor being the strategies that best explain it. Thus, the importance of investing in training actions in the area of inclusion is confirmed, since the demands involved in this work tend to overwhelm teachers, reflecting on the quality of their relationship with the included student.

Abstract People are victims of consumer fraud and scams on a daily basis. However, in most cases, the victims could have detected the fraud if only they had checked for inconsistencies in the scammer's message. What makes some people detect and avoid a scam while others fall prey to it? This article investigates, in two experiments, the effects of ego depletion, issue involvement, need for cognition, and strength and valence of arguments on attitudes and attitude change. Experiment 1 tested the hypothesis that, in the case of high ego depletion, the participants' attitudes would be similar in both strong and weak argument conditions, whereas in the case of low ego depletion, their attitudes would be significantly more favorable in strong argument conditions. In Experiment 2, we hypothesized that participants' attitudes would follow the direction of the valence of the persuasive message presented to them. The results corroborated the hypothesis of Experiment 2 alone. Overall, the results indicate a low tendency for the participants to agree with the persuasive messages. Future studies could benefit from using different manipulations of the elaboration likelihood and from testing the persuasiveness of fraudulent messages.

Abstract Understanding how people forget is one of the fundamental goals of the science of memory. Recent studies indicate that humans can voluntarily regulate awareness of unwanted memories by stopping the retrieval process that would ordinarily bring past experience into awareness. Event-related potential (ERP) research on memory retrieval reveals that electrophysiological effects with specific timing and scalp topography serve as markers of memory processes. This systematic review examines the literature regarding EEG alterations in memory suppression, highlighting their results on electrophysiological indicators. A systematic review from January 2007 to November 2017 was conducted using PubMed, Embase and ScienceDirect databases. As results, 12 studies were eligible for inclusion. Quantitative EEG can be a objective tool for studying the mechanisms involved in memory suppression. There is evidence that a parietal positivity around 400-800ms after cue presentation is an ERP marker of conscious recollection during memory retrieval and a larger N2 deflection during retrieval suppression predicted greater suppression-induced forgetting.

Abstract Utilizing the structural approach of the Social Representations Theory, which allows an order and understanding of the reality lived by individuals/groups, this study intends to identify the central nucleus and peripheral systems of the Social Representations of Vitiligo, as well as the representational structure of the self-image that people with the affection possess. For this, 370 Brazilians with Vitiligo from all regions of Brazil, aged from 18 to 67 (M=35.71, SD=12.11) and predominantly female (80.7%), were enrolled in a study through the online completion of a social-demographic questionnaire and the Free Word Association Technique (FWAT). In the FWAT, participants’ responses were stimulated using the inductors “Vitiligo” and “Myself”, the latter being related to the self-perception that the person with the disease experiences. The data were analyzed using prototypical lexicographic analysis, performed by the Evocation 2000 software. The results indicated, from the prominence of psychosocial evocations in the representational structure of Vitiligo and the participants’ self-image, that Vitiligo’s effects are not restricted to the skin, but overlap and negatively affect the social experience and self-concept of people with the disease.

Abstract The present study examined feasibility evidence of a peer-based intervention in preventing dating violence by monitoring process indicators during the implementation phase of pilot studies. Two pilot studies were carried out in cities from different Brazilian regions with the participation of 25 high schoolers. Quantitative and qualitative measurements were used and this data was explored, respectively, by frequency count and content analysis. The study identified, on the one hand, evidence supporting the intervention, with good indicators of satisfaction and participant involvement, but on the other hand, contextual barriers that hampered recruitment, restricted the reach of the intervention, prevented the delivery of the number of planned sessions, and created roadblocks to the participants’ adherence. In spite of such barriers, monitored process indicators testify in favor of the acceptability of the intervention if integrated into the school curriculum and changed its format to make it shorter.